hter, adding that he very
much feared Virginia had made an utter wreck of her earthly happiness.

"Poor Virgie!" sighed Elsie. "Ah! if only she had been blest with such a
father as mine!" turning upon him a look of grateful love.

"Or such a mother as my granddaughters have," added Mr. Dinsmore, smiling
into the soft, sweet eyes.

"What blessings my darlings are! how good and lovable in spite of my
failures in right training and example," she said in sincere humility.

"Those failures and mistakes have been very few, I think," was his reply;
"you have tried very earnestly and prayerfully to train them up in the way
they should go. And God is faithful to his promises--your children do not
depart from the right way; they do arise and call you blessed."

"Papa," she said, in moved tones, after a moment's silence, "we must not
forget how much is due to the training, the example, and the prayers of
their father."

"No, daughter; and we can always plead in their behalf the precious
promises to the seed of the righteous. 'I will pour my Spirit upon thy
seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring.' 'A good man leaveth an
inheritance to his children's children.'"

"Yes, father, how often have those promises been my comfort and support as
the inheritance of both my children and myself; inherited by me from both
you and my sainted mother and her pious ancestors."

"And from mine; for my mother was a devoted Christian and came of a long
line of God-fearing men and women. But I see nothing yet of Edward and his
party; they must have taken another road."

"Yes, sir; and shall we not turn now? I ought not to be long away from my
poor sick darlings."

"I think it would be well to return by the other road; we shall reach it
in a moment, and our ride will be lengthened by but a half mile or so."

She acquiesced in his decision, as was her custom.

On the homeward way, as they neared the cross-road leading to the city,
they saw a boy on horseback coming at a hard gallop down it in their
direction.

On catching sight of them he held aloft what looked like a letter, waving
it about his head in evident desire to attract their attention; then as he
reached their road he halted and waited for them to come up.

"Mr. Dinsmore, from the Oaks or Ion, isn't it?" he queried, lifting his
cap and bowing to the lady and her escort as they reined in their steeds
close at hand.

"Yes."

"A telegram for you, sir."

Mr. Dinsmore took th